In a joint effort to deepen collaboration in addressing the growing challenges of climate change, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to a strengthened scientific alliance aimed at transforming food, land, and water systems.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, and Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General of CIMMYT, met at ICRISAT’s global headquarters in Patancheru, India, alongside senior leadership teams from both CGIAR centers. The meeting reflected a shared vision to accelerate future-focused research efforts grounded in decades of scientific excellence.
The leaders emphasised the urgency of addressing the escalating climate crisis and the need to deliver high-impact, scalable innovations that benefit smallholder farmers worldwide.
“This alignment between ICRISAT and CIMMYT reflects our shared responsibility to push the boundaries of agricultural science for greater impact. By harnessing our combined expertise, we can more effectively address the complex challenges facing farmers today. This will also strengthen the recently launched ICRISAT Center of Excellence for South-South Collaboration in Agriculture (ISSCA),” said Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.
Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Bram Govaerts, Director General, CIMMYT, added, “Collaboration is not just a strategic choice—it is a necessity in the face of climate change, inequality, and shifting global food demands. By strengthening ties with ICRISAT, we are accelerating the delivery of science-driven, locally grounded solutions that empower smallholder farmers and build more resilient food systems for all.”
As members of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), the world’s largest agricultural research partnership, ICRISAT and CIMMYT reiterated their dedication to contributing to CGIAR’s global goals of ending hunger, reducing poverty, and safeguarding natural resources through a climate-resilient lens.